"We will succeed in Iraq," President Bush said last night at a fundraising gala for the Republican Party.

The Republican National Committee succeeded in raising $10.5 million at the presidential gala, a $1,500-per-person evening at a "heavy appetizer buffet'' with a shimmering neon lava-lamp décor in the airplane hangar-like hall of the DC Armory.

"I believe we're the party of the doer, the dreamer, the people that work,'' the president told Republican donors assembled here. "I believe we're the party of low taxes. And I know we're the party of strong national defense to protect the United States of America.''

With the warm-up music of a PA system pumping old Tom Jones favorites and a Pink Pantheresque lineup leading to the real evening's entertainment, the Liquid Pleasure Band, an expected crowd of 800 – though turnout seemed somewhat short of that – moved toward the rail before the stage to see the president explain the war, the economy and his vision for education and hear him remind all that a party that stands for something is a winning party.

"It's important that we succeed in Iraq and send a clear message to the people'' who threaten this nation's security, the president said. "I don't want it to be said 50 years from now, what happened to America in 2007, how come they forgot the lessons of September the 11th, how come they couldn't see the impending dangers facing a generation of Americans? I want you to know I see the impending dangers. I understand the consequences of this historic moment. And we will succeed in Iraq.''

Bush: "I like being the Commander-in-Chief.''

Throughout the day, after a Pentagon briefing in the morning, and at this party fundraiser in the evening, the president repeated some significant words.

In the morning, calling on Congress to adopt a new war spending bill that he can sign, the president said: "These troops deserve the money necessary to do the job. And our commanders need the flexibility necessary to do the job. And I believe this cause is necessary and it's noble. ''

In the evening, calling on Congress to continue the No Child Left Behind Act, with its measurements of school performance, he said: "If we spend money, we want to see results, and we've got to ask about the results. We spend a fair amount of money here in Washington, D.C., a lot of money on the schoolchildren, particularly the poor schoolchildren. And that's fine. And that's noble. And it is necessary. ''

Bush: "We're not going to agree on every issue."

The president was voicing this sense of determination throughout the day, starting with the meeting at the Pentagon with military commanders and his secretary of defense for two hours.

Yours truly asked him the following question:

"Mr. President, in your meeting with some moderate Republicans this week, in particular Representative (Ray) LaHood, who, afterwards, said, 'The way forward after September, if the report is not good, is going to be difficult' – those are his words -- are you perhaps facing an ultimatum on the war this fall with Congress?''

"You know, first of all, I appreciate the members coming down to the White House. We had a good exchange,'' Bush replied. " It gave me a chance to share with them my feelings about the Iraqi issue. I spent time talking to them about what it meant to fail, and what it means when we succeed. They expressed their opinions. They're obviously concerned about the Iraq war. But so are a lot of other people.

"I remind people -- I reminded them that last fall, late fall – (that if) I had been one of these people that get endlessly polled -- you know, these surveys and the pollsters calling people all the time, it looks like -- and if they had asked my opinion, I'd have said, I disapprove of what was going on in Iraq. You could have put me down as part of the disapproval process -- and, therefore, had put a plan in place that would more likely cause me to approve of what's going on in Iraq. That's why I made the decision I made.

"I explained to them why I made the decision I made. And I said, look, (Gen.) David Petraeus has got a plan, and members of Congress -- some members of Congress won't let him implement the plan,'' the president said. "That doesn't make any sense, on the one had, for us to send him out with the unanimous confirmation by the Senate, and then to deny him the troops and/or the funds necessary to get the job done. And I reminded them that we ought the give David Petraeus a chance.

"I did explain to them that General Petraeus has said he's going to come back and report to the Secretary and the Joint Chiefs and the White House and the Congress about whether or not the strategy that he thinks could work, is working. And at that point in time, we will respond accordingly.

"As I told people, that decisions about the posture in Iraq needs to be based upon conditions on the ground. And no better person to report about the conditions on the ground than somebody who was there, and that would be General Petraeus,'' Bush said. "And at that point in time, upon the recommendation of the Secretary and the Joint Chiefs and General Petraeus, we will respond to what he says. So I said, why don't we wait and see what happens? Let's give this plan a chance to work. Let's stop playing politics. It's one thing to have a good, honest debate about the way forward in Iraq; it's another thing to put our troops right in the middle of that debate.

"These troops deserve the money necessary to do the job. And our commanders need the flexibility necessary to do the job. And I believe this cause is necessary and it's noble. That's why I put those young men and women out there in the first place. It's necessary for the peace and security of our country. It's noble to have such amazing citizens volunteer to go into harm's way. And our Congress needs to support him. It's one thing to have a political debate or a debate about strategies; it's another thing to make sure that money gets sent to them on a timely basis. I repeat: This idea of funding our troops every two months is not -- is not adequate, and I, frankly, don't think it's right. They need to give these troops what they -- what the military has asked for them.''

By evening, the day had turned festive.

The president arrived at the armory fundraiser in a 15-vehicle motorcade. He proceeded to photo ops in a curtained-off VIP section behind the stage out of sight from the rest of the hall, to meet and greet the party's bigger donors.

Then to the stage, where party chairman Mike Duncan came out to say, "before we let our hair down too much - an Austin Powers thing," he wanted to speak seriously of his party's vision - "most importantly, a vision of a strong national defense" - and of course he noted the $10.5 million they had raised.

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), general chairman of the RNC, introduced Bush. "Today we face another ideology that hates freedom,'' said Martinez, introducing a president who knows how to lead, "a man of courage and vision."

"Please be seated…" Bush said - though there were no chairs on the armory floor. "… unless, of course, you don't have a chair.''

"I've learned something about how you win campaigns,'' Bush said. "I've been through a few, myself. I have found that if you stand for something the people will believe in you. If you stand on principles and enunciate that which you believe, the people will follow. And so as we head into campaign season next year it's very important for the Republican Party to enunciate that which we believe, to stand for something, not be one of these parties that takes a focus group to tell us what to believe, but to tell people what we believe and what those beliefs are -- beliefs etched in our soul.

"I believe that everybody has the right to be free. I believe freedom is universal. I believe this country needs a strong national defense. I believe that the best way to encourage economic vitality so that people can realize the American Dream is through less government and more entrepreneurship. I believe that the government ought to trust in the judgment of ordinary citizens. I believe that technologies can help transform the world in a better way. And I believe when we find somebody who hurts we ought to encourage faith-based and community groups to surround them with love. That's what I believe. ''

Comments

He should have started and stopped at "dreamer."

Every time one wants to consider the impact of the war and its importance, Bush plays politics with it. When he does that, it makes me realize that the war is only important to Bush as far as his own legacy.

But, of course, its disasterous outcome - in which tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis were killed - makes it vitally important to our future. Too important to play politics with its execution and outcome.

In trying to rally Republicans, Bush insults the rest of the American people. His speech should be played over and over again. I'd like to see the effect on his poll numbers.

The president that once referred to himself as the "uniter" has just made the divide even greater by suggesting, "(W)e're the party of the doer, the dreamer, the people that work...''

Posted by: Bud McFarlin | May 11, 2007 7:03:07 AM&nbsp

The man is delusional. He really should get help. The 800 in the room might believe his irrational repetitive speech he carries in his pocket; but most of us – thankfully – don’t.

Posted by: Gort | May 11, 2007 7:04:22 AM&nbsp

"I believe we're the party of the doer, the dreamer, the people that work,'' the president told Republican donors assembled here.

He's right about the fact that he's dreaming.

Posted by: Logic Prisoner | May 11, 2007 7:18:56 AM&nbsp

Just what does "success" look like in a criminal quagmire? This military family is tired of Dubya's excuses-and no he isn't taking care of the troops so him threatening to cut off the money is no big deal. At least without the cash, he will have no choice but to end the war.
Then we need to make laws to protect our troops from ever being sent on such foolish ill-conceived ventures again.
Congress and Bush/Cheney cannot be of sound mind if they think military families are going to continue to accept this mess.

Posted by: Prissy | May 11, 2007 7:34:58 AM&nbsp

What do you mean "we," Commander Guy?

Posted by: Draft Republicans | May 11, 2007 7:35:52 AM&nbsp

Oh well, glad they were able to raise money and party over the dead bodies like that. Nothing gets those Republicans down.

By the way, No Child Left Behind is a bigger failure than Iraq. Look at the studies.

Posted by: Draft Republicans | May 11, 2007 7:40:05 AM&nbsp

I believe Bush just needs to be impeached.

Posted by: July Wewers | May 11, 2007 7:48:28 AM&nbsp

i think the president has been saying that we will be successful in Iraq for way to long to many american lives are being lost in Iraq and its time to do something about it. I am not saying to pull everyone out, becuase i dont think that is the solution either but we need to do something. right now we are in a tough situation and something needs to be done.

Posted by: HEATTTT | May 11, 2007 7:48:39 AM&nbsp

YOU GO, PRESIDENT BUSH!!!

Posted by: Hannah Stixrud | May 11, 2007 7:51:30 AM&nbsp

All I can say to the above remarks is,"You've got to be kidding!" No, really, he and his neoconservative buddies have got to be kidding knowing what they have done to me and my family-knowing that they have been slowly tearing down the Constitution over the last several years all in the name of the Patriot Act, Homeland Security, the Military Commissions Act, and so forth-unjustly wiretapping and spying on average American citizens. The arrogance is unbelievable!

Posted by: A. Gibbs | May 11, 2007 7:52:39 AM&nbsp

"It's that vision thing" again. Looks like our president is trying hard to keep his base reminded of the greatness of their cause.

The problem is that he and his team have badly bungled and mismanaged their endeavors and, worse, really have misunderstood and disrespected many, many fundamental American principles and legal or political concepts.

All his preaching, particularly in the last paragraph of this story, is great campaign trail speech-making but, for example, his comment that "the government ought to trust in the judgment of ordinary citizens" is absolutely laughable, given his poll numbers and against the backdrop of his comments about the Congress not having listened to HIS opinions about how to carry forward the so-called war in Iraq. From one scandal to the next, the thread that unites them by their actions rather than their words is a philosophical disrespect for the most fundamental principles upon which America was based, particularly the notion that "the politicians" as he likes to somewhat derisively refer to them, are the people's elected representatives, as is he. Our representatives and we deserve clear and reasonable explanations of our "war" strategy and no, Mr. President, the generals never have and never will determine basic foreign policy matters. You and the other elected representatives consider the advice of the military but they don't run the show in a modern democracy.

Posted by: Robert Goldsmith | May 11, 2007 7:56:46 AM&nbsp

Thank you Mr President for sharing your beliefs. Too bad you have zero credibility.

God bless America.

Posted by: Smirky McFlightsuit | May 11, 2007 8:04:49 AM&nbsp

You can't have it both ways. I copied a paragraph from above:

In the evening, calling on Congress to continue the No Child Left Behind Act, with its measurements of school performance, he said: "If we spend money, we want to see results, and we've got to ask about the results. We spend a fair amount of money here in Washington, D.C., a lot of money on the schoolchildren, particularly the poor schoolchildren. And that's fine. And that's noble. And it is necessary.

He said: "If we spend money, we want to see results, and we've got to ask about the results.

The Congress wants that for Iraq, but it isn't on his personal agenda. We need a President that represents the "majority" of Americans and if that means to control a 2/3 majority of the seats in Congress, then so be it.

Posted by: Richard | May 11, 2007 8:07:43 AM&nbsp

[quote]
"It's important that we succeed in Iraq and send a clear message to the people'' who threaten this nation's security, the president said.
[/quote]

Mr. President: define what a "success" in Iraq will look like, so that I and 300 million other Americans will recognize it. Also, please remember that Iraq was NEVER a threat to the American people in the way the Islamic extremists from countries like Saudi Arabia are - you know, birthplace of Osama bin-Laden and his radical views on the Islamic faith.

Posted by: BC | May 11, 2007 8:18:40 AM&nbsp

Chimpeach!

Posted by: Chimp | May 11, 2007 8:20:16 AM&nbsp

Yes, I guess if success means the death of hundreds of thousand of Iraqis, and over three thousand american troops in the quest for control of Iraq's oil , we will succeed. Democracy Bush style. Impeach NOW!!!

Posted by: Earl | May 11, 2007 8:21:15 AM&nbsp

We will succeed in Iraq even if it's over your son or daughters dead body.Right Dick?

Posted by: Raving Loon | May 11, 2007 8:24:28 AM&nbsp

The US involvement in the Middle-East is designed to destabalize the area further and to make it easier for US businesses to manipulate and control. We are in the M-East to funnel money into certain big businesses. We are not there over human rights. I am appalled that the news media can turn a blind eye to this. Our war on terror and our war on drugs are jokes. People who promote them should be ashamed.

Posted by: jack | May 11, 2007 8:31:11 AM&nbsp

Bush gets richer, our young people get fewer.

Posted by: Tom | May 11, 2007 8:35:03 AM&nbsp

Nothing like those retro 60s parties with white guys on the dance floor trying to count the beat, bad acoustics, the punch spiked with acid (everyone's delusional), lava lamps aglow, then an impersonator takes the stage and does a great Richard Nixon.

✌

Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | May 11, 2007 8:35:13 AM&nbsp

He keeps saying things like "We are going to succeed in Iraq", and I hope we do. But I'd feel much better if he would lay out a strategy I could get behind. In 5 years of this Iraqi thing I have yet to hear anything that made sense. Nothing but slogans. Slogans do not win wars.

Posted by: Jim G. | May 11, 2007 8:41:05 AM&nbsp

Mark,
Perhaps the next time you ask the president a question you should add the pretext:

"Mr. President, I am about to ask you a question that required a simple Yes or No response. It is pretty simple so you won't have to feel compelled to elaborate on a totally unrelated barrage of nonconnected points.

If you want to elaborate further AFTER you respond with either a Yes or No then that would be great. Although I would like to suggest that perhaps you narrow your elaboration to the subject of my question."

Posted by: Brian | May 11, 2007 8:41:23 AM&nbsp

If we don't make a stand and win in Iraq. When will we make a stand? New York City or LA or both?

Posted by: Burnie | May 11, 2007 8:46:22 AM&nbsp

The comment about funnelling money is entirely true. I asked my best friend, who is currently serving his second tour in Iraq, "What exactly is your objective?" He said he sees no signs of any progress or any sort of mission of Iraqi liberation. All he sees is that companies like Halliburton, Titan, and KBR are making a mint in this reconstruction. My friend says that he is working side by side with employees from these companies and the only difference between them is that they make 6 figures a year and he makes a soldier's salary.

Posted by: matt | May 11, 2007 8:46:54 AM&nbsp

Quote from above:
"I believe that the government ought to trust in the judgment of ordinary citizens."

Oh really! why are we still there then Mr. President??

Posted by: Floyd | May 11, 2007 8:47:11 AM&nbsp

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